Skype for Xbox 360 coming soon?

By Tom Warren, on 1st Aug 11 4:53 pm with 20 Comments

Microsoft’s Skype Xbox integration might be coming sooner than expected.

Microsoft’s latest Xbox awards survey hints at the possibility of a Skype for Xbox application arriving soon. “Other than playing games, which of the following activities do you enjoy on Xbox 360?” asks the survey. The answers include watching DVDs and Zune movies but curiously includes “using Skype” as an option. Microsoft isn’t speaking fully about its Skype plans until the EU commission has approved the deal. The company has previously confirmed the service will make its way to the Xbox and Kinect. Tony Bates, Skype’s CEO, revealed last month that an October time frame is realistic for the deal to be complete. “We already got through the US side of it,” Bates said at a technology conference in Aspen, Colorado. “We still have Europe so it’s anyone’s guess, but I would say we’ve got a couple of months more here,” he said. “Maybe sort of an October time frame would be my guess.”

The software giant announced its intentions to purchase Skype in May. Microsoft’s deal is valued at $8.5 billion cash and will see Skype CEO Tony Bates assume the title of president of the Microsoft Skype Division. Bates will report directly to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Microsoft says Skype will support Microsoft devices like Xbox and Kinect, Windows Phone and a wide array of Windows devices, and Microsoft will connect Skype users with Lync, Outlook, Xbox Live and other communities.

Microsoft’s Skype deal timing in October could pave the way for an Xbox Skype application in time for the fall dashboard update. Microsoft’s latest dashboard update will bring Bing search and a new Metro tile user interface to the platform. Skype currently has 170 million connected users and saw over 207 billion minutes of voice and video conversations in 2010 alone.

Thanks to Grady Bailey for the news tip

Skype on Xbox soon?

  • http://doctorwhofan98.wordpress.com/ doctorwhofan98

    I wonder if video chat would work with Kinect…

  • http://doctorwhofan98.wordpress.com/ doctorwhofan98

    I wonder if video chat would work with Kinect…

    • Anonymous

      yes obviously, am on silver so i hope it would be avalaible on Silver not Gold or Diamond only.
      But working with kinect is sure, just like the video kinect,

    • http://twitter.com/cris178 Cristian

      its probably gonna be gold only it makes sense considering netflix requires gold so why not it also gives  people who don’t care about online gaming a reason to get gold

    • Anonymous

      Yh they can use their pcs and use the skype client for free

    • http://ahylianhuman.me Rod Davis

      There’s already Video Kinect, so Skype Video shouldn’t be much of a problem.

  • user

    when we can expected skype for windows phone 7?

  • user

    when we can expected skype for windows phone 7?

    • Anonymous

      its not in Mango, so i think it would be in Tango , appollo is a bit far and MS wants to dive into the smartphone market, i think they would include it in Tango which is the next wp7 vesions afrer mango

    • Anonymous

      its not in Mango, so i think it would be in Tango , appollo is a bit far and MS wants to dive into the smartphone market, i think they would include it in Tango which is the next wp7 vesions afrer mango

    • Anonymous

      well, mango is api rich enough that an “app” could be built for it finally, but i’m pretty sure deep integration is in some future build..

    • http://twitter.com/efjay01 Ef Jay

      It was announced as an app for WP7 back at MWC to be launched with Mango, before the acquisition was announced so we should first see the app then integration with the OS later on, pending purchase approval of course.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_KTAHVKS2RNDWTQPHQEJALLRNEQ Adam Paris

      For Mango there will be an app, but hopefully integrated in tango or apollo.

  • Anonymous

    we use skype for cross office chat. can’t wait to rig my kinect to ditch the dumb company webcam.

  • GP007

    This shouldn’t even be a question, now that MS has grabbed Skype they’ll work it into Xbox and WP7 as a mater of fact.

  • http://twitter.com/jimmyfal Jimmy Fallon

    I tell you, if MS makes Kinect work faster, gets rid of the lag between Xbox apps, trims down the interface, adds Skype and makes it ALL work by voice, including changing the channel by voice, they will be TOTALLY forgiven for the slowness to market of the phone and slates. This will be huge if they pull it off. It has to be ALL IN on this. No minor updates here man. Gimmee all of it.

    • Renzo

      I second this motion.

  • Matthewprince

    I’m afraid its coming to the stage where in going have to jump ship and buy an iPhone as I NEED Skype when on the move and Microsoft refuse to let anybody know when it will happen for wp7 :o /

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jesse-Garcia/100000361221634 Jesse Garcia

    Makes perfect sense.

  • Michael Nutkowitz

    i think its great now we can talk to all of our friends and talk to family via xbox